For many of us on this side of the hemisphere, smoothie season is over. I hear you. Dark mornings are not such a great fit anymore for my favourite green smoothie either. Even if it is warm enough where you are, you might find that freezing cold smoothies are not the best choice for you. You are not alone- those who suffer from indigestion, slow-ish metabolism, bloat and so on, complain about smoothies exacerbating their symptoms. In fact, this is the reason why, months ago, I wrote about food combining and shared with you three Ayurvedic smoothies that are easy to digest. You can find that information on food combining, and recipes for those smoothies here. I will share one of those recipes below because that one is a perfect choice for cold winter days.
I never do freezing cold smoothies- even though I have a great digestive system, and never complain about bloat (I sweat I’m not bragging. Just stating a fact!). I think it is not ideal to consume frozen/ freezing cold foods and drinks *on a regular basis*, and I want to have smoothies *on a regular basis* 😀 So what do I do, and what are my general rules about smoothies?
- Try to choose seasonal fruits and vegetables.
- Try to have smoothies at room temperature, except may be for summer months, and if your digestive system is working optimally.
- When suffering from indigestion, try to practice food combining. I don’t consume dairy, but if you do, do not mix dairy with other products. Try not to mix fruits and vegetables, as these need different amounts of time to digest. Limit using raw vegetables (as they are harder to digest). Try steaming before blending them for your smoothie.
- Use ripened fruits as much as possible. Again, this is a matter of priority. If your digestion is fine, it won’tt matter that much.
- If you can’t follow any of the above recommendations (you must use raw vegetables, have to mix fruits with veggies, etc.), you can at least have the smoothie during lunch time, when digestive power is at its peak.
- Consider using warming spices: cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, nutmeg, long pepper, cloves. I mention this frequently on Instagram.
Now that we have covered these general rules, let me give you a few ideas for winter smoothies. These are tasty, regardless of your digestion/metabolism;)
PS: Oh, you’ll realize that there is some coconut obsession going on here. If you are like me, don’t forget to check out my recipes for lovers of all things coconut (including toddler-friendly popsicles 🙂
Chai Tea Smoothie
I love tea so much that I can’t even stand the idea of adding sugar or milk or whatever to my black tea. But transforming it into a smoothie, I think, is brilliant. I make this with Golden Mellow from Yoursuper. I know I keep bragging about their mixes, but if you still don’t have them, feel free to use a mix of ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, ashwagandha, to taste (all in powder form).
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup brewed black tea
- 1/2 cup of warm coconut milk
- 1/2 ripe, sweet apple (cored and peeled)
- 2 Medjool dates (pitted and soaked in warm water for around 10 minutes)
- 1/2 tsp Yoursuper Golden Mellow Mix
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
Instructions:
- Let the tea cool down.
- Then blend the tea with all ingredients except for the coconut milk and blend these for around 3 minutes at medium speed.
- Transfer to a mug.
- Meanwhile, warm your coconut milk on the stove (or in the microwave). Once hot, pour into the mug. Enjoy!
Grounding sweet potato smoothie
In Ayurveda, root vegetables are considered to be great for easy detoxification of the body. With their high concentration of antioxidants, Vitamins C, B, A, and iron, they helping to cleanse your system. I also love root vegetables because they are grounding- you know, helping with anxiety which almost everyone I know is suffering from these days. This particular smoothie will also give you energy because of the guarana and maca powders in it.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup warmed coconut milk
- 1 small steamed sweet potato (cooled and skin removed)
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon Yoursuper Golden Mellow (again, feel free to use a mix of turmeric, ashwagandha, cinnamon, and ginger, to taste)
- 1 tsp Yoursuper Energy Bomb (or perhaps 1/2 tsp maca and 1/2 tsp guarana powder.)
- 1 tablespoon pecan butter (any nut/seed butter will do. I prefer pecan with sweet potatoes).
Instructions:
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Place all the ingredients — except for the nut butter— in your blender and puree until smooth.
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Once the batter reaches to desired consistency, add the nut butter blend for another minute.
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Serve in a glass jar. You can choose to top with coconut flakes or pumpkin seeds. Yum.
Pumpkin bread smoothie
I like this as both a smoothie and a smoothie bowl. The thicker the smoothie, the harder it is to digest, but, honestly, I’d try and experiment with both. If you want it thinner, add more coconut milk. If you want thicker, increase the amount of walnuts and pumpkin.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup warm coconut milk (1/2 cup to make it a smoothie bowl)
- 1/2 cup organic canned pumpkin
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 2-3 pitted Medjool dates (soak in warm water for 10 minutes, especially if you don’t have a high speed blender)
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (or cinnamon sugar!)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
If you want it thinner, heat the coconut milk as the last step and add it to your glass jar. If you like to make a smoothie bowl, simply blend all the ingredients until smooth and transfer them to a bowl. I like to top it with incredibly delicious coconut praline granola from Sakara (Type XOIVY for a good discount on any first purchase from Sakara). The brand is exceptionally clean, and I love their granolas (try the chocolate one, too! Omg.)
Metabolism Boosting Smoothie
A few months ago, my husband gave me the gift of a Sakara meal delivery. A gift of Sakara Life Metabolism powder came in the package. with my delivery. I, cautiously, tried it. I got hooked right away. It’s delicious in a smoothie, yummy when mixed with oat milk and coconut sugar, and really, really tummy-friendly to me. Besides organic cacao, this mix has horsetail (you will see this in hair supplements because it is supposed to help with hair growth, but also helps eliminate bloat) and Gymnema Sylvestre (another Ayurvedic herb that regulates blood sugar), and black pepper (hello, digestion help!), among other ingredients. I highly recommend you give it a try, but if not, you can use raw cacao! This smoothie also has Yoursuper Forever Beautiful mix- check out the ingredients, full of antioxidants and omega fats.
- 1 cup warm plant-based milk (I like macademia or walnut milk, with this smoothie)
- 1 cup sweet cherries (thaw if using frozen. You can use canned cherries, or cherry butter, as long as there are no other ingredients like preservatives.)
- 1 tablespoon Sakara metabolism powder**
- 1/4 cup walnuts
- 1 tablespoon Yoursuper Forever Beautiful (you can use acai powder instead)
- 1-2 tablespoon liquid sweetener of choice (I prefer 1 tbsp maple syrup. Adjust to taste).
Instructions:
Place everything in your blender. Blend until smooth- this might take a while to get a smooth-enough consistency. Be patient. Scrape the sides of the blender if needed. I like this really foamy. That’s why, sometimes, I transfer this mix from my big high-speed blender to a hand blender to get the delicious bubbles!
** Discount code for all things sakara: XOIVY (XOIVY-BF21 during the holiday season for an additional discount!)
Sahlap
I’m basically copying and pasting from my previous post!
This is a plant-based version of a yummy Middle Eastern drink that is enjoyed warm. I lived in Istanbul for five years, and I LOVED enjoying a glass of “sahlep” (as is known in Turkey) they made on the ferry which brought us from the Asian side of the city to the European side (I know, it was a magical place to live). It is warming, rich, and delicious.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of plant-based milk (I suggest oat milk).
- 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp coconut sugar
- 1/2 tbsp vanilla (or rose water)
For topping: ground cinnamon
Instructions:
- Mix the cornstarch with 1/4 cup of the plant-based milk. Set aside.
- Bring the rest of the milk and the coconut sugar to a boil, then simmer.
- Add the cornstarch mix you set aside to the simmering milk.
- Add the vanilla.
- Cook on low heat until it comes to a boil.
- Stir constantly, to prevent the cornstarch from settling on the bottom. Top with cinnamon and shredded coconut.
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Editor’s note: The information in this article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition and before undertaking any diet, supplement, fitness, or other health programme.
Wow Ivy, these sound phenomenal and sooo perfect for the cold weather! Can’t wait to try them all. And I’m going to buy some of the metabolism powder that you mentioned too! Sounds so good! Thank you so much for sharing such helpful ideas! You inspire me everyday! XOXO!
Hello lovely! I SO hope you like them. Thank you for your kind words, always <3